SWEET 15
____________________________
QUINCEAÑERA
Spanish Study Guide
By
Olga Echeverry
Modified by:
Mrs. Soto & Ms. Walsh 
To the teacher:
Below you will find the 3 sections for the movie so you can plan your viewing time
and activities.
Section
Duration
First
(40 min.)
Second
(40 min.)
Third
(40 min.)
Start
Beginning of the
movie
The mother is
combing her hair
The father gets out
of the workers’ line
Content
First section
Second section
Third section
Grammar
Activities and projects
Additional activities
Original Title
Other title
Director
Script
Country
Year
Cast
Sweet 15
Quinceañera
Victoria Hochberg
Sharon Weil
United States
1989
Ending
The father stays by
himself in the office
The father gets out
of the workers’ line
End of the movie
Summary
Nothing is more important to Marta De La Cruz, a Mexican-American girl, than
her quinceañera – the traditional celebration that represents going from her
childhood years into her young adult life. She feels a lot of resentment when her
father cancels her celebration. Her way of thinking completely changes when she
discovers her father’s secret: he has never become a U.S. citizen.
Marta has a lot of plans for her party. She meets a guy who she thinks her family
won’t allow her to invite to her birthday celebration. After meeting with him behind
her parents’ backs, Marta finds a job in an Immigration office in which the
applications of undocumented people, who are trying to become legal residents
in the United States, are processed.
Marta is surprised when she finds out that her father is not an American citizen
and that that was his reason to cancel her party. When she finds out about her
father’s secret, Marta will do whatever it takes to help her father become a legal
citizen of this country. Once the problem is solved, Marta’s family continues to
make plans for her quinceañera.
First section
Section
First
Duration
Start
(40 min.)
Beginning of the
movie
Ending
The father stays by
himself in the office
Preview
Geographic location
The story of “Sweet 15” takes place in the United States, in the state of
California. Can you unscramble the names of the following cities in California?
Write the correct names on the lines and then find their location using the map of
California.
Sna igoDe, Lso Ánlesge, Sna Fcisranco, tocraSamen, Staan Bbaárra, Sna éJso, Earuek, deaPasra, Sna
Bardernino, Frneso
1.
_____________________________________
6. ____________________________________
2.
_____________________________________
7. ____________________________________
3.
_____________________________________
8. ____________________________________
4.
_____________________________________
9. ____________________________________
5.
_____________________________________
10.__________________________________
Cognates
Write the translations for the following words from English to Spanish and vice
versa:
Immigration___________________
Amnesty __________________
Language __________________
Qualify____________________
Arruinado____________________
Decisión___________________
Honor______________________
Carnival ___________________
Miracles____________________
Suffocate __________________
Operación_____________ _____
Manners____________________
Educación___________________
Músicos____________________
Nervioso___________________
Detailed____________________
Espías____________________
Fabulous___________________
Afortunado__________________
Stupendous________________
Words
Abuelo
Trabajo
Quinceañera
Amnistía
Vals
Masacre
Fiesta
Expressions
¡Viene la migra!
Papeles falsos
Tú eres ilegal
Pago extra
Mi esposa acaba de tener un bebé
La vida es lenta
Trabajo aquí
La gente es amable
Tú eres el mejor trabajador
En México la gente es cálida
Now, unscramble the words and fill in the blanks with the corresponding letters.
Then write the numbered letters in the bottom of the page
While you watch the movie
While you watch the movie, complete the following chronologically ordered exercises.
1. Circle the correct answer
1.1 The father sings una
ranchera/ salsa / cumbia
1.2 At the party they dance a
vals/ rap/ tango
1.3 The birthday girl is
Patricia/ Gaby/ Monica
2. Complete the following sentences:
2.1 The oldest man is ______________at the party
2.2 Gaby’s cousin is from________________ City
2.3 Gaby’s cousin works in a mechanic shop, he is a _______________
3. Select the correct response for the following questions:
3.1 How many years has the gardener been in the U.S.?
3.2 How many family members are there?
a. 2
a. 3
b. 1 c. 3
b. 2
c.5
4. Write true (T) or (F) false in front of each statement:
_____4.1 Marta’s father works in a big corporation.
_____4.2 Marta’s father has to fire a friend at work.
_____4.3Marta is a good dancer
5. Complete the following sentences using the word bank.
Carnival
offers
meets
cousin
salsa
leaves
father
go
sees
Marta goes to the ___________with her friends. There she ___________ up with Gaby’s
cousin and they dance _______ at the carnival. Gaby’s cousin __________ to take her
home. When she _____________the carnival, Marta ______________
her ______ waiting for her. She has to _______ home with her father.
Comprehension
A. Answer the following questions using complete sentences.
1. What is the father’s attitude when he sees his daughter dancing with the young guy?
2. What is the mother’s attitude?
______________________________________________________________
3. Is Marta happy dancing with her cousin Octavio?
_____________________________________________________________
4. What car is Gaby’s cousin driving?
____________________________________________________________
5 Why is Gaby’s cousin nervous when the girls arrive at the mechanic shop?
__________________________________________________________
6. Do you think Marta’s father knew the Pledge of Allegiance?
___________________________________________________________
7. How does Marta’s father feel when he has to fire an employee?
_____________________________________________________________
B. Select the correct response to the following question.
8. If the do not let Marta have her party, then what does the brother want for himself?
a. a bicycle
b. a skateboard
c. a car
9. Why is immigration doing raids?
a. Because there is not a lot of work in the United States.
b. Because they do not want any immigrants.
c. Because the United States is going to give amnesty.
10. What nationality are Marta’s parents?
a. Colombian
b. Mexican
c. Argentinean
Second Section
Section
Duration
second
(40 min.)
Beginning
End
The mother is
The father gets out
combing her hair
of the workers’ line
Preparation
Words
The following words are important to understanding the following section of this
movie.
sacrificios
enojada
permitir
riesgos
golpear
letreros
promesa
ciudadanía
nombres falsos
solicitud
preocupado
triste
empleo
misa
supervisor
Circle 5 words of your choice and translate them into English below.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Expressions
Connect the expressions from column A to their meaning in column B.
Column A
Column B
“These hands are my Proof.”
“Sin papeles no trabajas aqui”
“We are going back to Mexico”
“Arriesgarlo todo”
“Get the kids involved”
”Hay que cuidar el dinero”
“Risk everything”
“No hay más discusión”
“Be careful about money”
“Envolver a los niños”
“No more discussion”
“The whole family is in mourning”
“Without papers you do not work
here”
“Toda la familia está de luto”
“Regresemos a México”
“Estas manos son mi prueba”
While you watch the movie
1. Circle the word that best completes the sentence.
1.1 Samuel is in this country
illegally/legally/with a visa
1.2 Marta’s mother does not tell her
to go away/the truth/they are going to Mexico
1.3 The priest tells Marta
her father is illegal/to go to mass/
the party is not the most important thing
1.4 Ramón told Marta
not to study/family is important/to go with him
2. Select the response that best completes the following sentences.
2.1. The family might have to move to Mexico because...
a. Marta and her brothers want to go.
b. Samuel is not an American citizen.
c. the mother does not want to live in the United States.
2.2. Ramón gives advice to Marta because
a. he studied a lot.
b. he did not go to school
c. he has a job as a mechanic.
2.3. Marta’s mother does not tell her the truth because...
a. her husband does not allow her to.
b. she is undocumented.
c. she lives happily in the United States.
2.4. Ramón goes to the factory to...
a. look for a job.
b. talk to the supervisor.
c. look for trouble.
2. Unscramble the letters in parenthesis to find out the Spanish translation to the
underlined word.
3.1 When Marta sees her fathers archive she becomes sad. (ittres)
________
3.2 When Marta arrives without the milk, her father almost hits her. (Gapole)
_________
3.3 Marta tells Ramón that there is no party because she is mad. (ndaeoja)________
3.4 Samuel visits the priest because he is worried (prdoeopcua)
__________
Third Section
Section
Third
Duration
(40 min.)
Start
The father gets out
of the workers’ line
Ending
End of the movie
Comprehension
A. Write four words describing each person and afterwards write a sentence for each person
based on the movie.
The father
The mother
Marta
Ramón
_________
__________
________
_________
_________
__________
________
_________
_________
__________
________
_________
_________
__________
________
_________
1. ___________________________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________________________
3. ___________________________________________________________
4. ___________________________________________________________
C. Answer the following questions using complete sentences.
1. How come Marta cannot leave the house?
________________________________________________________________
2. Why does Ramón have to return his suit?
__________________________________________________________________
3. What do you think is going to happen with Samuel, Marta’s father?
__________________________________________________________________
4. What did Marta find in the archives?
___________________________________________________________________
5. Why do people use different identifications?
__________________________________________________________________